No final decision on new BJP chief: Venkaiah

“I can only tell you,no final decision has been taken about the next BJP president. The discussions are on and it is the BJP which will be taking the final decision about the next president of the party,” Naidu told reporters here.

“The next president will be elected as part of the process of organisational polls and the election will be unanimous,” he said.

About media reports that Maharashtra BJP chief Nitin Gadkari will succeed Rajnath Singh as the party president,Naidu said it is all speculation.

“These are all speculations. My point is that once the party meets,it discusses and then takes a decision,” he said.

Replying to a query,he said RSS is a great source of inspiration and that he is proud of his association with the Sangh fountainhead.

Asked about BJP president Rajnath Singh’s remarks that his successor can take over once his tenure came to an end by the last week of November,Naidu said no decision has been taken on the matter.

“The incumbent can continue till the election of the new president,” he said.

He also parried questions on whether L K Advani will step down as Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

Admitting that the recent crisis in the BJP government in Karnataka has pained party leadership,Naidu said the situation in the southern state is being closely watched.

“As far as Karnataka episode is concerned,it has pained us. It has affected our image to some extent. But the BJP is a national party and it has got the capacity and stamina to withstand such problems and then move forward. What has happened was not a happy thing,” he said.

“The central leadership is closely watching what is happening. The Chief Minister Yeddyurappa has made it clear that he will be the Chief Minister. He will continue to be the Chief Minister. The central party will firmly stand behind him,” the senior BJP leader said.

Naidu lashed out at Telugu Desam chief N Chandrababu Naidu’s reported remarks that the BJP is a communal party.

“Before calling us communal,you give an assurance that you will not join hands with Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) or Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) in Hyderabad. We speak for people. MIM leaders are involved in attacks against Taslima Nasreen,corporation staff,junior doctors.

“You are afraid of speaking against MIM. We are not. We talk about terror attacks in Hyderabad. Don’t make false allegations against us,” he said.

Naidu also appealed to the people to vote for BJP in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections,scheduled for November 23.